5 days Ago By TOI World Desk
The Trump administration has paused the processing of certain green card applications, escalating concerns among Indian immigrants—one of the largest migrant groups in the United States. The decision is part of a broader immigration crackdown aimed at increasing scrutiny and national security checks. Why is the green card processing paused? According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the pause aligns with two executive orders signed by Donald Trump.
These orders aim to increase immigrant screening for potential fraud, public safety, and national security risks. Who is affected by this pause? The freeze affects immigrants applying for permanent residency, including Indian nationals, who form one of the largest immigrant groups in the US. With over 2.
9 million Indian immigrants in the country as of 2023, many could face significant delays and legal uncertainties. How does this impact Indian immigrants? Longer wait times: Indian nationals already face some of the longest green card backlogs due to per-country caps. According to the Cato Institute, some employment-based applicants may wait decades for approval.
This pause is expected to extend those delays further. Work authorization risks: Many Indian immigrants are on H-1B visas while awaiting their green cards. Delays in processing could cause their work permits to expire, leading to potential job loss and deportation risks.
Family separation: The freeze applies to adjustment of status applications, which many use to reunite with immediate family members. Indian immigrants sponsoring family members may face prolonged separation. High-skilled workers at risk: Indian tech professionals, who form a large share of H-1B visa holders, are particularly vulnerable.
Industry groups warn that extended delays could push these workers to seek opportunities in countries like Canada, which offers faster permanent residency. Uncertainty for asylum seekers : Indian asylum seekers and refugees who have already passed extensive background checks could see their legal status remain uncertain, affecting their access to work, healthcare, and other essential services. What do experts say? Laura Collins, director at the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, told NBC News, “All these people who are approved to remain in the United States have already passed government scrutiny.
” She argued that further delays are unnecessary. Azadeh Erfani from the National Immigrant Justice Center told Newsweek, “This sweeping and indefinite stop on green card processing is yet another attempt for this administration to baselessly paint all immigrants as a national security risk.” Is there a timeline for lifting the freeze? The Trump administration has not provided any timeline for when green card processing will resume, leaving thousands of applicants uncertain about their future.
What is the broader impact of this policy? This move aligns with Trump’s larger push to tighten immigration policies, including plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Critics argue the pause unfairly targets legal immigrants and creates further bureaucratic hurdles. Stay updated with the latest India news , weather , and Air Quality Index (AQI) updates for major cities like Delhi , Mumbai , Noida , and Bangalore on Times of India .
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